Combined golfer&#39;s towel, brush and cleat cleaner



1967 J. B. FRAZELLE ETAL 3,350,736

COMBINED GOLFER'S TOWEL, BRUSH AND CLEAT CLEANER Filed Nov. 23, 1964 3 Sheets-$heet 1 F/GZ INVENTORS JAY B. FRAZELLE BY ROBERT F. WILLIAMS ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1967 J. B. FRAZELLE ETAL 3,350,736

COMBINED GOLFER'S TOWEL, BRUSH AND CLEAT CLEANER Filed Nov. 23, 1964 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTORS JAY B. FRAZELLE BY ROBERT F. WILLIAMS A TTORNEYS N V- 1967 J. B. FRAZELLE ETAL 3,

COMBINED GOLFER'S TOWEL, BRUSH AND CLEAT CLEANER Filed Nov. 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet, :5

INVENTORS JAY B FRAZELLE- By ROBERTF. WILLIAMS A TTORNE YS United States Patent 3,350,736 COMBINED GOLFERS TOWEL, BRUSH AND CLEAT CLEANER Jay B. Frazelle and Robert F. Williams, both of 345 Crest Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95127 Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,005 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-113) This invention relates to a towel holder and more particularly to a holder which maintains a portion of a towel moist.

Many situations are presented where a wet or moist wiper is desired to accomplish cleaning, whether it be of a person or articles. For example, while traveling by auto, particularly with children, many occasions arise where cleaning hand and/ or face of dirt or food particles is desired. Such cleaning is usually done with dry wipers made of paper products which do not adequately remove certain rather tenacious particles. Satisfactory cleaning usually awaits until toilet facilities or water is available. In consideration of the need of providing a wet or moist towel when desired, it is a feature of this invention to maintain a portion of a towel wet by enclosing the wet portion in a tubular sheath which prevents evaporation. A thong, preferably made of nylon, extends through an opening in the wall of the sheath and is secured to an intermediate portion of the towel in order to secure it to the sheath. By this arrangement, the wet portion of the towel is made available for use by merely pulling the towel longitudinally relative to the axis of the sheath. The thong is effective to limit the movement of the towel so that pulling the entire towel out of the sheath is prevented and allows the wet or dry portion to be easily exposed when desired.

The possible uses of this invention is only limited by the need of the user; but in addition to the abovedescribed use, it is intended to have particular utility in sports such as golf, baseball, track and any other sport where cleated shoes or spikes are used. Players of golf will readily appreciate the great advantage in having available a wet wiper for cleaning golf balls and clubs since during play, the clubs, particularly the irons, and the ball become matted with grass particles and dirt which, with respect to the clubs, reduces the effectiveness of the club face in imparting back-spin to the ball, since the score lines of the club become filled with dirt. Of course, it is recognized that it is customary to provide ball-cleaning devices at each tee, but oftentimes the ball is hit into mud or very soft ground in the course of reaching the green. Cleaning of the ball before the next shot is recommended in order to reduce the possibilities of impairing the line of flight and to restore the visibility of the ball.

Although not restricted thereto, the towel holder of this invention intended to be used for golf, also includes a bristle brush mounted on the sheath and a metal cleat cleaner for removing accumulations of impacted turf from golf shoes. When it is desired to clean the striking face of the clubs, it is merely necessary to expose the Wet portion of the towel and rub the face to moisten the impacted dirt and turf after which the brush is stroked across the face to clean the score lines. Thus this invention provides, in one unitary device, the necessary implements to clean golf balls, shoes, clubs and golf carts.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to maintain a portion of a towel wet over a relatively long period of time by preventing evaporation.

Another object of this invention is to incorporate a variety of complementary cleaning devices assembled in aunique manner.

A further object of this invention is to attach a towel to the holder so that the moistened portion can be easily exposed for use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective means for connecting a towel to a stationary support.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description.

The following drawings illustrate preferred forms which the invention may assume in practice:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the towel holder, including the brush and cleat cleaner, constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the holder of FIG. 1. as it would appear when a zipper provided therewith is opened;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the holder which is made from an extruded plastic tube and showing in phantom outline the wet portion of the towel when it is exposed for use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the modification of FIG. 3 illustrating slots formed in the body of the holder and illustrates the device with the towel material removed;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, a side and top view of another modified form of the invention incorporating a plastic zipper;

FIG. 7 shows still another form which the invention may take wherein a permanent magnet is fastened to the holder so that it may adhere to a suitable metal surface when not in use;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the manner in which the holder deflects when a towel thong and washer are being inserted therein;

FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which the thong is connected to the towel;

FIG. 10 shows the manner of attaching the thOng to a stationary hook or ring support when it is desired to use the towel alone.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the towel holder according to this invention, generally indicated by 20, comprises a body portion 22 in the form of rectangular sheet of flexible, easily deformable material, preferably plastic, having a suitable metal zipper 24 which when zipped constrains the body 22 to assume an elongated tubular configuration. Each half of the zipper, designated by the numerals 24a and 24b, is se cured to the opposite longitudinal margins of the body 22 preferably by stitched seams 26. An elongated flap 28, being of sufiicient width to underlie the zipper is also stitched to the body 22, and serves the purpose of preventing snagging of the towel by the zipper. The flap may be a long narrow piece of plastic or may be defined by sewing the zipper portion 24b laterally inwardly from the edge of the body 22.

A piece of suitable toweling material of any appropriate length is bunched or gathered and a thong 32, preferably of nylon, is formed with a loop 34 and a knot 36 attaching the thong to the towel. The free end of the thong is formed with a small loop 381 which is held in place by a deformable generally U-shaped metal fastener 40 clinched in any desired manner. Before the loop 38 is formed, a disc 42, of plastic or metal, having a hole through which the thong is fed, is provided for a purpose presently to be explained.

A key slot 44, formed with a central round hole 44a, and diametrically opposed slots 44b permits the thong 32 and the disc 42 to extend through the body 22 and functions to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the thong through the slot. With the zipper 24 closed, as shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the towel 30 is enclosed by the body 22 which now assumes the generally tubular configuration.

The portion of the towel 30 within the tubular body 22 (FIG. 1) will be assumed to define the wet portion W. In order to expose the wet portion for use, it is necessary to withdraw it from the tube and in doing so the dry portion D is drawn into the tube. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the length of the wet portion W is substantially equal to the length of the tubular body 22, whereas the length of the dry portion D is a matter of choice. It is preferable, however, to make the portion D of suificient length so that when the wet portion is withdrawn and the thong is taut there still remains enough extending out of the tubular body 22 to be grasped so that the wet portion can again be drawn into the tube when use of the dry portion is desired.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the length of the thong and the particular place it is looped around the towel, has a significant relationship to the length of the tubular body 22. In particular, the thong is looped around the towel at a distance from one end equal to the length of the tube and the minimum length of the thong from the knot 36 to the disc 42 would be equal to the distance of the key slot 44 from the end 46 of the tube. Of course, it is to be realized that the thong can be of any suitable length as long as it is of sufiicient length to allow the wet portion to be drawn into the body 22 after it has been used.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that a brush 48 is mounted on a peripheral portion of the body 22 and it comprises a base member 50 within which are secured the bristles 51. The base 50 is shaped so that the surface in contact with the body 22 conforms theret The base includes mounting flanges 52 through which extend rivets 54 of any suitable type fastening the brush to the body. The base is produced from a suitable plastic material and if desired it can be fused by available apparatus to the base 50 thus obviating the use of rivets.

On the side wall of the base 50 or on the mounting flanges 52, there is secured a metallic cleat-cleaner-mud scraper 56 formed with claw-like bifurcated end 57. By forming the cleat cleaner-mud scraper in this manner, it is possible to scrape impacted turf from the opposite sides of the cleats simultaneously. Oftentimes brushing alone is ineffective to completely clean the cleat area of shoes making it necessary to make use of the cleat cleanermud scraper before brushing is attempted.

To facilitate easy attachment and easy removal of the towel holder to a golf bag, for example, a conventional swivel-type harness snap 58 is secured to the body 22 by a short length of plastic 60 which is loo ed through the snap 58 to form a secure strap and is attached to the body by rivets 62.

Thus, according to the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the towel holder of this invention basically provides a device which maintains a portion of a towel in a wet state for a relatively long period of time by removably enclosing the wet portion in a sheath, and preferably a tubular sheath, with means dependably attaching the towel to the sheath in such a manner that the Wet portion is made easily available for use. Such means also serves the function of limiting movement of the towel when the wet portion is drawn into the sheath after use.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a modified form of the invention is shown which incorporates features which greatly simplify the constructing of the towel holder thus making possible a decrease in the cost of producing the towel holder. In this modification the tubular body 22a is made from extruded plastic material being cut the desired length thus eliminating the necessity of the zipper shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The brush 48 and the associated cleat cleaner 56 are also mounted on the body in the manner described in the first embodiment. It is also apparent from an inspection of FIGS. 3 and 4, that the towel 30, the thong 32 and the harness snap 58 are provided to fulfill the described functions. As shown best in FIG. 4, the body 22a is provided with an elongated slot 64-,

having one end 66 located substantially centrally of the length of the body and the other end terminating at 68. Another slot 70, extending inwardly from the edge 71, and illustrated to be in longitudinal alignment with the slot 64, serves the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the towel 30 in tubular body 22a. To illustrate, one desiring to insert the towel in the tube grasps the body 22a by the left hand, and with one end of the towel gathered, pushes the gathered end into the body. As the towel progresses through the body, the frictional resistance makes it increasingly difficult to advance the towel in the body. By pushing a finger of the right hand against that part of the towel adjacent to the edge 71, movement of the towel occurs. But, it will be appreciated that the edge 71 not only limits the distance the finger can be pushed, but it subjects the finger to some pain if it were to be force-d against this edge. In recognition of this condition, the slot 70 allows the wall of the body 2211 to be bent laterally outwardly when the finger enters the tube increasing the distance the towel can be moved during each push of the towel and preventing forceable engagement of the finger against the edge 71. The above described action of the slot 68 is shown in FIG. 3 where the thumb is used for inserting the towel and the bending of the body is indicated by the numeral 72. In addition the portion of the thong between the knot 36 and the disc 42 can be located in the slot 70 while the towel is being inserted.

By providing an elongated slot 64, the thong 32 can be made shorter than the one illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 since the thong 32 is displaced longitudinally with the towel when the disc 42 contacts the body 22a. At the moment of contact of the disc 42 with the outer surface of the body 22a, the thong is taut and further movement of the towel causes the thong to be moved in the slot 64.

The further modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantially similar to the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that a plastic zipper 24, extending from the brush base 50 to the end 73 of the body 22b, is provided. The thong 32 extends through the key slot 44 and is provided with the disc 42 which prevents withdrawal of the throng from the key slot when the towel 30 is moved relative to the tubular body. It will be noted that the plastic zipper 24 further increases the ease for inserting the towel in the body 2212 because when the zipper slide 25 is located against the base member 50, it is only necessary to push the towel through a tubular passageway substantially equal to the length of the base member 50. It is to be noted that the base 50 is attached to the body 22b by the rivets 54 which extend through holes formed in the base since this form of the brush does not include the flange shown in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown the form the invention would assume when it is desired to provide the towel holder of this invention for general uses, and particularly, as pointed out in the introduction of this specification, for auto traveling. It will be seen that it includes an extruded tubular body 22a, substantially identical to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with slots 64 and 70 serving a similar purpose. A magnet 76 is secured to the body 22a in any suitable manner and it is effective to releasably attach the towel holder to a magnetic surface such as sheet metal which is readily available in cars. Accordingly, by providing a magnet attached to the body, the towel holder can be easily stored in a manner which makes it readily available for use.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, the towel can be positively attached to any suitable support, such as a hook or ring, by use of the thong and the associated disc. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the towel 30 is folded to define a foldline 78 located sub stantially along the longitudinal median of the towel. An eyelet 80, preferably of corrosion resistant material, is attached adjacent to the fold-line 78 to extend through both layers of the towel. The thong 32, having a small loop 38 and the disc 42, is inserted through the eyelet 80 and another disc 42a is slipped on the end of the throng projecting through the eyelet. The free end of the thong is doubled and another metal fastener 40 is clinched thereon to prevent withdrawal of the thong from the disc 42a which in turn prevents the thong from being pulled out of the eyelet 80. The towel 30 is then gathered in the vicinity of the eyelet 80 and the thong is wrapped or looped around the gathered portion as indicated by the numeral 82. Then the free end of the thong is passed under the loop defining a hitch 84. In this manner a very simple and yet very effective knot is produced at an intermediate portion of the towel.

As shown in FIG. 10, a typical stationary hook 86, or ring such as found on a golf bag, is illustrated to which is secured the free end of the thong 32. The thong is looped around the hook 86, as indicated by 88, and then is passed over and through the loop 88 to locate the disc 42 and the small loop 38 in the illustrated position. It is then merely necessary to apply tension to the towel tightening the loop 8 8 which is prevented from being untied by the disc 42. Regardless of the type of hook used the provision of the discs 42 associated with the thong constitutes a very simple and eifective attachment means. For example, the ring hooks found on golf bags provide a very suitable device to which the thong can be attached in the above described manner. By providing the disc 42 on the thong, a simple overhand knot will securely retain the towel and thong assembly on a hook or ring, yet will not pull so tight that it cannot be easily removed when desired.

We claim:

1. A towel holder comprising a generally rectangular sheet of flexible non-pervious material; cooperating zipper portions attached to opposite sides of said sheet in order to define, when said zipper portions are interleaved, a generally tubular body open at each end; a towel in said body having end portions extending outside the open ends of the tubular body; and means secured intermediate the ends of said towel and to said tubular body for connecting said towel to said body and for limiting the extent of sliding movement of the towel within the body so that at least a portion of each end of the towel always extends outside the adjacent open end of the tubular body.

2. A towel holder comprising an elongated hollow body open at each end, a towel slidably disposed in said body, said towel being greater in length than said body so that a portion thereof always extends beyond each of the open ends of said body, an elongated slot in said body, a thong extending through said slot and attached to said towel, and means on said thong for preventing its removal from said slot, said thong being connected to the middle of the towel and having a length slightly less than half the length of the towel so that at least a portion of each end of the towel always extends outside the adjacent open end of the hollow body.

3. A towel holder comprising an elongated hollow body, a towel slidably disposed in said body, an elongated slot in said body, a thong extending through said slot and attached to said towel, and means on said thong for preventing its removal from said slot, said towel being greater in length than said body so that a portion thereof always extends beyond the ends of said body, said body having a second slot extending longitudinally inwardly from one end of said body, said body being mad-e of easily deformable material, said second slot being provided for defining deflectable tab portions which deflect laterally of the slot under the influence at wedging action occurring when the towel is being pushed into the body by a persons finger.

4. A towel holder comprising an elongated tubular body, a brush mounted at one end and on the outer periphery of said body, a plastic zipper extending from the other end of said body to the base of said brush, a towel slidably mounted in said body and having a length substantially greater than said body, a thong secured to an intermediate portion of said towel and extending through an opening formed in the wall of said body, means on the portion of the thong exterior of said body for preventing withdrawal of said thong from said body, said thong being of sulficient length to allow a selected moistened portion of said towel to be withdrawn from the interior of said body.

5. The combination of claim 4 further comprising means on said brush for dislodging impacted turf materials from traction elements of sport shoes.

6. A towel holder comprising an elongated hollow body having a towel substantially longer in length extending through said body, a thong secured to said towel at a distance from one end of said towel that is at least equal to the length 0 fsaid body, an opening in the wall of said body through which said thong extends, means on the end of said thong for retaining said thong in said opening, and a magnet mounted on said body for attaching said holder to a suitable metal surface, said thong being of sufiicient length to permit said towel to be displaced longitudinally of said body when it is desired to expose a wet portion of the towel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,090 9/1901 Lee 128-263 2,204,947 6/1940 Apfelbaum 15208 2,233,157 2/1941 Cahn et al.

2,513,884 7/1950 Maurer 2279 2,980,936 4/1961 Snow et al. 15113 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,073,698 1/1960 Germany.

304,989 1/ 1929 Great Britain. 579,397 8/1946 Great Britain. 475,689 5/ 1950 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, 14,620, September 1955.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

4. A TOWEL HOLDER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY, A BRUSH MOUNTED AT ONE END AND ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID BODY, A PLASTIC ZIPPER EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY TO THE BASE OF SAID BRUSH, A TOWEL SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND HAVING A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN SAID BODY, A THONG SECURED TO AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID TOWEL AND EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING FORMED IN THE WALL OF SAID BODY, MEANS ON THE PORTION OF THE THONG EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY FOR PREVENTING WITHDRAWAL OF SAID THONG FROM SAID BODY, SAID THONG BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO ALLOW A SELECTED MOISTENED PORTION OF SAID TOWEL TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY. 